BEAVERTON -- The Sunshine Pantry is calling all quilting bees and volunteers to help make blankets that will be shipped to Japan.

The Beaverton nonprofit, which provides food and supplies to local families in need, hopes to send thousands of handmade fleece blankets to the overseas country.

"I think that when we make these fleece quilts, they take on their own personalities that will be bright and colorful and cozy and will be made with love," said Sharon Straus, the nonprofit's director.

Sunshine Pantry is also accepting new or gently used store-bought blankets or toys, quilting materials such as fleece and clothing for this cause, Straus said.

"Everybody wants to do something, but they just don't know what," Straus said. "I want to get this going so that we can show that we care."

While many details are still in the planning process, Straus hopes other community groups, churches, schools and youth clubs will join the Pantry's relief effort. More information will be updated soon, she said.